-growth of powerful monarchy states led to trouble for the Italians
-long struggle for power between Valois and Hapsburg dynasties
-Italy was only a pawn for the two powers-->breakdown of Italian balance of power encouraged invasions
-Ludovio Sforza, duke of Milan foolishly invited French to intervene in Italian politics
-French king Charles VIII, with an army of 30,000 men advanced through Italy and occupied the kingdom of Naples
-Other Italian states turned to the Spanish for help, and Ferdinand of Aragon
-for 15 years French and Spanish competed to dominate Italy
-then switched to Francis I of France and Charles I of Spain
-Sack of Rome in 1527 by the armies of the Spanish king, Charles I, brought an end to the Spaniards dominating Italy
first major moment where dynasties fight over land and dynastic claims-fighting for hegemony and the need/want to expand (power politics)
Machiavelli's ideas on politics stemmed from 2 major sources, his preoccupation with Italy's political problems and his knowledge of ancient Rome.
Political activity could not be restricted by moral considerations- must act on behalf of the state.
-abandon morality as the basis for the analysis of political activity
-considered the founder of modern, secular power politics
Invasion of the Italian States
-long struggle for power between Valois and Hapsburg dynasties
-Italy was only a pawn for the two powers-->breakdown of Italian balance of power encouraged invasions
-French king Charles VIII, with an army of 30,000 men advanced through Italy and occupied the kingdom of Naples
-Other Italian states turned to the Spanish for help, and Ferdinand of Aragon
-for 15 years French and Spanish competed to dominate Italy
-then switched to Francis I of France and Charles I of Spain
-Sack of Rome in 1527 by the armies of the Spanish king, Charles I, brought an end to the Spaniards dominating Italy
Political activity could not be restricted by moral considerations- must act on behalf of the state.
-abandon morality as the basis for the analysis of political activity
-considered the founder of modern, secular power politics